JP2009181968A - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve locking strength of a retainer while keeping a connector small. <P>SOLUTION: A shield terminal 20 is inserted into a cavity 31 of a female housing 30 while a stabilizer 28 projected toward right and left sides are inserted into a guide groove 40, and is primarily locked by a lance 35. A retainer 50 is plugged into a retainer mounting opening 42 by inserting its leg pieces 52 on both sides in the insertion groove 44, and when it is pushed up to a normal locking position, a slipping-off preventing part 54 is locked to the back fringe of the stabilizer 28 to doubly lock it. A normal locking pawl 58 is elastically locked to the normal locking part 48, and a lock protrusion 60 formed on the inside face of the leg piece 52 is fitted and locked in the end part of the guide groove 40 in addition. Thereby, the retainer 50 is locked to the normal locking position. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector provided with a retainer for locking a terminal fitting.

Conventionally, what was described in patent document 1 is known as an example of this kind of connector. As shown in FIG. 16, a retainer 4 provided with a retaining portion 5 engageable with the terminal fitting 1 is inserted into the housing 3 provided with the cavity 2 into which the terminal fitting 1 is inserted from the lower surface side. It is provided as possible. On the other hand, the retainer 4 is formed with a leg piece 7 that can be inserted into an insertion groove 6 formed in the housing 3, and is formed with a pair of temporary lock claws 8A and a main lock claw 8B that can be flexibly deformed.
First, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 5B, the retainer 4 is in a temporary locking position where the retaining portion 5 stays in front of the cavity 2 by the temporary locking claw 8A being locked to the temporary locking portion 9A. In this state, the terminal fitting 1 is inserted into the cavity 2 and is primarily locked by the lance. Subsequently, when the retainer 4 is pushed in, the lock claw 8B is locked to the main locking portion 9B by being locked by the main locking portion 9B as shown by the chain line in FIG. The terminal fitting 1 is engaged with the jaw portion 1A of the terminal fitting 1 inserted so as to protrude into the terminal fitting 1 so that the terminal fitting 1 is prevented from coming off twice.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-58570

By the way, downsizing of the terminal fitting 1 and the housing 3 is gradually required, and accordingly, the retainer 4 must be downsized. Then, in the case where the lock structure of the retainer 4 as described above is adopted, the lock claw 8B (8A) has a low rigidity and a small hook allowance, so that the lock strength is insufficient, and consequently the terminal fitting 1 There was a possibility that the retaining force of the was insufficient.
The present invention has been completed based on the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to secure the strength for locking the retainer in the locking position.

  As a means for achieving the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that the connector housing is formed with a cavity into which the terminal fitting is inserted, and a retainer for preventing the terminal fitting from being detached, The retainer includes a leg piece that can be inserted into an insertion groove formed on the side wall of the cavity, and a lock portion provided on the leg piece is elastically engaged with a locking portion provided on the insertion groove. In this connector, the retainer is locked at the locking position to prevent the terminal fitting from coming off, and the retainer is inserted to the locking surface on the opposing surface of the leg piece and the insertion groove. In this case, another locking mechanism portion is provided that fits with each other, and this another locking mechanism portion is provided with a protrusion on the surface of the retainer facing the cavity side of the leg piece. The protrusion is formed on the opposite surface of the insertion groove so that the protrusion fits into the terminal groove, and a stabilizer protrudes laterally on the terminal fitting, while the side wall of the cavity is allowed to pass through the stabilizer. A guide groove that opens to the insertion groove side, the end of the guide groove on the insertion groove side is the recess, and the protrusion of the leg piece is capable of pressing the stabilizer. It is characterized by the configuration.

  The invention of claim 2 is the one described in claim 1, wherein the retainer is a position before the locking position in the insertion direction and allows the terminal fitting to be inserted into and removed from the cavity. It is characterized in that it can be locked in the temporary holding state.

<Invention of Claim 1>
When the retainer is inserted into the locking position, in addition to the locking portion locking to the locking portion, another locking mechanism portion provided between the leg piece and the opposite surface of the insertion groove is unevenly fitted. By doing so, the retainer is firmly retained and locked at the locking position. In addition, since the lock mechanism portion is formed using a dead space, such as the opposing surface of the leg piece and the insertion groove, it does not lead to an increase in the size of the housing.
That is, it is possible to enhance the lock strength of the retainer, that is, the retaining force of the terminal fitting, while keeping the connector small.
Further, when the retainer is inserted into the locking position, the protrusion provided on the leg piece fits into the recess provided in the insertion groove, whereby another lock is applied to the retainer. Specifically, when the retainer is inserted into the locking position, the protrusion of the leg piece fits into the guide groove of the stabilizer, and another lock is applied to the retainer.
Furthermore, when the protrusion fitted in the guide groove presses the stabilizer, the terminal fitting is pressed against the side wall on the opposite side of the cavity, so that the terminal fitting is packed in the cavity.

<Invention of Claim 2>
The retainer is first locked in a temporary holding state at a position where the terminal fitting is allowed to be inserted and removed, and then inserted into the locking position and locked. Since the operation of inserting / removing the terminal fitting can be performed with the retainer temporarily held in the housing, the management of the retainer is facilitated, and the insertion work and maintenance can be performed efficiently.

Exploded longitudinal sectional view according to one embodiment of the present invention Sectional view seen from the front of the state before the retainer is mounted on the female housing Plan view of shield terminal Front view Cross section of female housing Bottom view Front view Rear view Cross section viewed from the back Partial perspective view of retainer Longitudinal sectional view with shield terminal primary locked A longitudinal sectional view of the retainer in the temporary locking position Cross section viewed from the front A longitudinal sectional view of the retainer locked in the final locking position Cross section viewed from the front (A) An exploded perspective view of a conventional example, (B) A sectional view showing a lock mechanism portion of the retainer

<Embodiment>
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
In this embodiment, a female shield connector is illustrated. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a shielded electric wire is provided in a cavity 31 formed in a female connector housing 30 (hereinafter referred to as a female housing 30). The shield terminal 20 fixed to the terminal of 10 is inserted and primarily locked by the lance 35, and then double-locked by the retainer 50.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the shield terminal 20 includes an outer terminal 21 made of a metal plate. The outer terminal 21 is formed with an accommodating portion 22 having a rectangular tube shape on the front end side, and two barrels 23 and 24 are formed behind the accommodating portion 22. A thick square cylindrical dielectric 25 made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin is fitted in the accommodating portion 22.
Then, an inner terminal 26 made of a metal plate and formed into a female terminal shape is fixed to the end of the core wire 11 of the shielded electric wire 10. The inner terminal 26 is fitted into the dielectric 25 and exposed. A front barrel 23 is secured to the end of the braided wire 13 and a rear barrel 24 is secured to the end of the sheath 14.

In the accommodating portion 22 of the outer terminal 21 of the shield terminal 20, as shown in FIG. 3, the rear end side of the ceiling plate 22 </ b> A is excised, and the excised end is a locking edge 27 that is engaged with the lance 35. . On the other hand, a pair of stabilizers 28 are formed by bending the upper edges of the side plates 22B at right angles toward the outside at the rear end portion where the ceiling plate 22A is cut off in the housing portion 22 described above.
This stabilizer 28 functions to prevent the shield terminal 20 from being inserted into the cavity 31 in a posture other than the normal position, that is, to prevent erroneous insertion. Next is to be locked.
In addition, the normal attitude | position at the time of inserting the shield terminal 20 in the cavity 31 is an attitude | position which the ceiling board 22A (stabilizer 28) of the accommodating part 22 of the outer side terminal 21 came to the lower surface side, as shown in FIG.

The female housing 30 is made of synthetic resin, and as shown in FIGS. 5 to 9, the female housing 30 is generally formed in a rectangular tube shape elongated in the front-rear direction, and the inside thereof can insert the shield terminal 20 from behind. The cavity 31 is formed.
A reduced-diameter portion 32 having a rectangular cross section is formed in the central portion of the cavity 31 in the length direction, and in particular, the front half portion thereof is formed in the housing portion 22 in the outer terminal 21 of the shield terminal 20 as shown in FIG. The rear end side is a fitting portion 33 that is fitted almost tightly. On the ceiling surface and the left and right side surfaces of the fitting portion 33, two stuffing ridges 34 facing in the front-rear direction are formed.

A lance 35 is formed on the bottom surface of the fitting portion 33. The lance 35 is formed in a cantilever shape facing the front, and the tip side can be bent and deformed in the vertical direction, and the protrusion 36 that locks the locking edge 27 of the shield terminal 20 on the top surface of the tip side. Is formed.
At the lower end position of the left and right side walls in the reduced diameter portion 32, a guide groove 40 that slidably passes through the stabilizer 28 of the shield terminal 20 is formed facing the front-rear direction. As shown in FIG. 1, the guide groove 40 opens on the rear surface of the reduced diameter portion 32, and the front side is a dead end at a position slightly inserted from the front surface. The rear end side is formed wider so that the upper surface position is higher than the front end side.

  After the shield terminal 20 is inserted into the cavity 31 from behind, the shield terminal 20 is pushed into the reduced diameter portion 32 while sliding the left and right stabilizers 28 into the guide grooves 40. At this time, the lance 35 is inserted into the ceiling plate 22A of the housing portion 22. It is pushed at the front edge and deforms. When the stabilizer 28 hits the back end of the guide groove 40, the pushing is stopped. At this time, the locking edge 27 of the housing portion 22 passes through the protrusion 36 of the lance 35, so that the lance 35 moves back and protrudes. 36 is locked behind the locking edge 27 so that the shield terminal 20 is primarily locked in the cavity 31 in the removal direction.

A retainer mounting port 42 in which the retainer 50 is mounted is opened on the lower surface of the female housing 30, more specifically, on the lower surface side of the position corresponding to the position where the reduced diameter portion 32 of the cavity 31 is formed.
The retainer 50 is made of synthetic resin, and has a shape formed by raising a pair of leg pieces 52 at both ends of the substrate 51. More specifically, the substrate 51 has a length slightly longer than the lateral width of the reduced diameter portion 32 in the cavity 31, and the leg piece 52 is formed with a depth dimension slightly larger than the substrate 51.

  On the opposing surfaces of both leg pieces 52, a retaining portion 54 that is engaged with the rear edge of the stabilizer 28 of the shield terminal 20 is formed at the lower end position of the center portion in the depth direction. The retaining portion 54 is formed in a vertically long shape having a predetermined thickness. A guide protrusion 55 is formed at a position above the retaining portion 54 at a predetermined interval. On the other hand, on the left and right side walls of the reduced diameter portion 32 of the cavity 31, as shown in FIG. Thus, an opening is formed on the lower surface. Further, on the inner side surfaces of the left and right side walls, a vertical groove 45 reaching the insertion groove 44 is formed so as to intersect with the guide groove 40 of the stabilizer 28 in the substantially lower half region in the center portion in the depth direction. .

  Therefore, when the leg piece 52 of the retainer 50 is inserted into the insertion groove 44, the guide projection 55 and the retaining portion 54 enter the vertical groove 45 from below. In addition, the upper edge rear part of the retaining part 54 and the lower edge rear part of the guide protrusion 55 are tapered surfaces 54A and 55A which are widened rearward, and the upper edge front part of the retaining part 54 and the guide The lower edge front part of the protrusion 55 is similarly tapered surfaces 54B and 55B that are widened forward.

A pair of temporary lock pawls 57 and a main lock pawl 58 are formed extending upward at the rear and front portions of the retainer 50 on the upper side of the leg pieces 52. As shown in FIG. 10, claw portions 57A and 58A having a locking surface that is horizontal on the lower surface and a tapered surface on the upper surface are formed at the tips of the lock claws 57 and 58, respectively, so as to contact and separate from each other. It is possible to bend and deform in the direction. An excessive deflection restricting portion 59 is provided between the lock claws 57 and 58.
On the other hand, at the rear edge (right edge in FIG. 1) of the insertion groove 44 described above, a temporary locking portion 47 that locks with the temporary locking claw 57 protrudes at a relatively low position, that is, a position where the insertion depth is shallow. It is installed. Further, a main locking portion 48 that locks to the main locking claw 58 is projected from the front edge of the insertion groove 44 at a relatively high position, that is, at a position where the insertion depth is deep. Both the locking portions 47 and 48 have a horizontal locking surface on the upper surface side and a tapered surface on the lower surface side, and the upper portions of the locking portions 47 and 48 are opened for escape.

When the leg piece 52 is inserted into the insertion groove 44 and the retainer 50 is pushed toward the retainer mounting opening 42, first, the temporary lock claw 57 is elastically locked to the temporary lock portion 47 as shown in FIG. Thus, the retainer 50 is locked at the temporary locking position where the push-in is shallow. In this temporary locking position, the gap 56 between the retaining portion 54 and the guide protrusion 55 is aligned with the guide groove 40 of the stabilizer 28, and the stabilizer 28 is allowed to slide on the guide groove 40. It has become.
When the substrate 51 of the retainer 50 is pushed into the retainer mounting opening 42 until it is flush with the retainer mounting opening 42, the main locking claw 58 is locked to the main locking portion 48 as shown in FIG. Locked in the locked position. In this full locking position, the upper end of the retaining portion 54 passes through the guide groove 40 and protrudes upward.

Now, another means is added to lock the retainer 50 described above in the final locking position. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 10, the guide groove 40 is formed at a position slightly below the upper end of the retaining portion 54 at the front position of the retaining portion 54 on the opposing surface of the leg piece 52 of the retainer 50. A lock protrusion 60 that can be fitted is formed to extend in the horizontal direction. As shown in FIG. 13, the cross-sectional shape of the locking ridge 60 is such that the lower surface is a horizontal locking surface 61 and the upper surface is a tapered surface 62.
As described above, when the retainer 50 is in the temporary locking position, as shown in FIG. 13, the lock protrusion 60 is retracted to the corner portion where the retainer mounting opening 42 and the insertion groove 44 are connected, When pushed into the full locking position, the guide groove 40 can be fitted as shown in FIG.
In addition, the opposing space | interval of both the lock protrusions 60 is set to the dimension which can clamp both the stabilizers 28 of the shield terminal 20 from both sides.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the shield terminal 20 fixed to the end of the shielded electric wire 10 is inserted into the cavity 31 of the female housing 30 in a state where the retainer 50 is assembled at the temporary locking position. At this time, if the shield terminal 20 is not in a normal posture, the stabilizer 28 hits the mouth edge of the inlet of the reduced diameter portion 32, so that further insertion is restricted, that is, erroneous insertion is prevented.

  When the shield terminal 20 is in the normal posture, both stabilizers 28 are inserted into the corresponding guide grooves 40, and the retaining portions 54 of the retainer 50 are also retracted below the guide grooves 40. , And the shield terminal 20 is pushed in while the lance 35 is bent and deformed. As shown in FIG. 11, when the stabilizer 28 exceeds the position of the retaining portion 54 and hits the back end of the guide groove 40, the pushing is stopped, and the lance 35 is moved back accordingly, and the projection 36 becomes a shield terminal. The shield terminal 20 is primarily locked in the removal direction in the cavity 31 by being locked to the locking edge 27 of the 20.

  Subsequently, the retainer 50 is pushed toward the final locking position as indicated by the arrow in FIG. When the substrate 51 is pressed, the main locking claw 58 is elastically deformed and climbs over the main locking portion 48, and the leg piece 52 is pushed into the insertion groove 44. And the upper end enters the guide groove 40. Since the shield terminal 20 is not pushed into the normal position in the cavity 31, that is, in the half-inserted state, the stabilizer 28 remains at a position intersecting the vertical groove 45, so that the retaining portion 54 hits the stabilizer 28 and the pushing is restricted. Thus, half insertion is detected. At that time, the shielded electric wire 10 is pushed in again. When the push of the shielded wire 10 is slightly insufficient, a small portion of the rear edge of the stabilizer 28 remains in the vertical groove 45, so that the retainer 50 is pushed toward the main locking position. When the retaining portion 54 rises, the tapered surface 54B on the front side of the upper edge pushes the rear edge of the stabilizer 28, pushes the shield terminal 20 forward, and automatically performs primary locking by the lance 35. Can do.

When the retainer 50 is pushed down to the main locking position, the main locking claw 58 is elastically locked to the main locking portion 48 as shown in FIG. In addition, as shown in FIG. 15, both locking protrusions 60 are fitted into the guide groove 40, and the locking surface 61 is locked to the lower surface of the guide groove 40, so that the retainer 50 is firmly fixed at the final locking position. Is locked in the retaining state.
When the retainer 50 is in the main locking position, the upper portion of the retaining portion 54 enters the guide groove 40 to be engaged with the rear edge of the stabilizer 28, and thus the shield terminal 20 is double-locked in the retaining state. Is done. Further, the both stabilizers 28 are sandwiched from both sides by the locking protrusions 60, so that the shield terminal 20 is centered in the center in the width direction in the cavity 31 and then packed.

When the shield terminal 20 is removed from the cavity 31 for maintenance or the like, the lock claw 58 is inserted into the jig insertion port 64 formed on the front surface of the substrate 51 of the retainer 50 from the state shown in FIG. Is removed from the main locking portion 48, and the retainer 50 is returned to the temporary locking position shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 while the lock protrusion 60 is removed from the guide groove 40. As a result, the retaining portion 54 escapes below the guide groove 40 and the locking by the retainer 50 is released.
In this state, when a jig is inserted from the front of the cavity 31 and the lance 35 is forcibly bent and deformed, the locking to the locking edge 27 is released. The shield terminal 20 can be pulled out to the rear of the cavity 31 while the stabilizer 28 passes through the guide groove 40 to the rear thereof.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the retainer 50 is inserted into the main locking position, the lock claw 58 is locked to the main locking portion 48 and, in addition, the lock protrusion 60 is formed in the guide groove 40. By being fitted and locked, the retainer 50 is firmly retained and locked at the final locking position. And since it has the fitting structure using dead space, such as fitting the lock protrusion 60 in the guide groove 40 of the stabilizer 28, it does not lead to the enlargement of the female housing 30. That is, it is possible to enhance the lock strength of the retainer 50, that is, the retaining force of the shield terminal 20 while keeping the connector small.

  Further, when the retainer 50 is locked at the main locking position, both stabilizers 28 of the shield terminal 20 are sandwiched from both sides by the left and right lock protrusions 60 fitted in the guide groove 40, thereby the shield terminal 20. Are centered in the center in the width direction in the cavity 31 and then packed. As a result, the mating connection with the mating terminal is performed smoothly and accurately, and fine sliding wear with the mating terminal is also prevented.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention, and further, within the scope not departing from the gist of the invention other than the following. Various modifications can be made.
(1) In the above embodiment, the case where a pair of left and right stabilizers is provided is illustrated, but only one of the left and right may be provided.
(2) The retainer may be of a type in which the retainer is directly mounted and locked at the final locking position without being temporarily locked at the temporary locking position.
(3) In the above embodiment, a single-pole connector is exemplified, but the present invention can be similarly applied to a multi-pole connector in which a plurality of terminal fittings are accommodated in a housing.
(4) The retainer is not limited to the side type exemplified in the above embodiment, but may be applied to a front type or a rear type depending on the shape.
(5) The present invention can be similarly applied to a male shield connector equipped with a male shield terminal.
(6) Not only the shield connector but also a normal connector formed by inserting a terminal fitting fixed to the end of the covered wire into the cavity of the housing.

10 ... Shielded wire 20 ... Shield terminal (terminal fitting)
28 ... Stabilizer 30 ... Female housing (connector housing)
31 ... Cavity 35 ... Lance 40 ... Guide groove (concave part: another lock mechanism)
42 ... Retainer mounting port 44 ... Insertion groove 47 ... Temporary locking part 48 ... Main locking part (locking part)
50 ... Retainer 52 ... Leg piece (lock leg piece)
54 ... Retaining part 57 ... Temporary lock claw 58 ... This lock claw (lock part)
60 ... Lock protrusion (protrusion: another lock mechanism)

Claims (2)

The connector housing is formed with a cavity into which the terminal fitting is inserted, and a retainer for preventing the terminal fitting from being detached is provided so that the retainer can be inserted into an insertion groove formed on the side wall of the cavity. A locking position where the retainer prevents the terminal fitting from coming off by elastically locking a locking portion provided on the leg piece to a locking portion provided in the insertion groove. In the connector locked to
On the opposing surface of the leg piece and the insertion groove, another locking mechanism portion is provided that fits into the concave and convex portions when the retainer is inserted to the locking position,
The another lock mechanism is formed by providing a protrusion on a surface of the leg piece of the retainer facing the cavity, and a recess in which the protrusion is fitted on an opposite surface of the insertion groove.
The terminal fitting is provided with a stabilizer protruding sideways, and a guide groove allowing the stabilizer to be inserted is provided on the side wall of the cavity so as to open to the insertion groove side, and the insertion groove of the guide groove is provided. The end on the side is the recess,
Further, the connector is characterized in that the protrusion of the leg piece can press the stabilizer.   The retainer can be locked in a temporary holding state at a position in the insertion direction before the locking position and allowing the terminal fitting to be inserted into and removed from the cavity. Item 10. The connector according to Item 1.

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